Temperature sensor, wearable device comprising temperature sensor, core temperature measurement method using temperature sensor

Abstract

In a temperature sensor, a wearable device comprising the temperature sensor, and a core temperature measurement method using the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor includes a sensing unit and a substrate. The sensing unit includes a base part, a measuring part mounted on the base part and configured to measure a temperature of a subject body by making contact with the subject body, and a cover part configured to cover the measuring part. The sensing unit is mounted on the substrate. A plurality of slits is formed around a first area of the substrate, and the sensing unit is mounted at the first area of the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature sensor comprising:
 a sensing unit comprising a base part, a measuring part mounted on the base part and configured to measure a temperature of a subject body by making contact with the subject body, and a cover part configured to cover the measuring part; and   a substrate on which the sensing unit is mounted,   wherein a plurality of slits is formed around a first area of the substrate, and the sensing unit is mounted at the first area of the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit further comprises:
 a terminal part extending from the base part toward an opposite to the measuring part, and passing through the substrate to be electrically connected to the substrate.   
     
     
         3 . The temperature sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the cover part covers an entire of the measuring part except for a portion of the measuring part heading for the subject body, and the portion of the measuring part exposed toward the subject body makes contact with the subject body for measuring the temperature of the subject body. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature sensor of  claim 3 , wherein the cover part comprises:
 a measuring sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The temperature sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the slits are spaced apart from the first area by a predetermined distance, and the slits are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature sensor of  claim 5 , wherein the distance between the slits adjacent to each other, is smaller than a length of each of the slits. 
     
     
         7 . A wearable device comprising:
 the temperature sensor of  claim 1 ;   a vital sign measuring part configured to measure vital signs of the subject body except for the temperature of the subject body;   a display part configured to display results of the temperature sensor and the vital sign measuring part; and   a case receiving the temperature sensor, the vital sign measuring part and the display part.   
     
     
         8 . The wearable device of  claim 7 , wherein the measuring part of the temperature sensor is exposed to an outside of the case to make contact with the subject body. 
     
     
         9 . A wearable device comprising:
 the temperature sensor of  claim 1 ;   a vital sign measuring module comprising a vital sign measuring part, wherein the vital sign measuring part is configured to measure vital signs of the subject body except for the temperature of the subject body;   a communication module disposed to an opposite to the vital sign measuring module and is configured to communicate with outside; and   a connecting part configured to connect the vital sign measuring module with the communication module,   wherein the temperature sensor is disposed inside of the vital sign measuring module or the connecting part.   
     
     
         10 . The wearable device of  claim 9 , wherein the connecting part is a flexible structure, and the measuring part of the temperature sensor is exposed to an outside of the connecting part or an outside of the vital sign measuring module to make contact with the subject body. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first electrode attached to a lower portion of the vital sign measuring module to make contact with the subject body; and   a second electrode attached to a lower portion of the communication part to make contact with the subject body.   
     
     
         12 . A core temperature measurement method using the temperature sensor of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 obtaining an ambient temperature;   obtaining a core body temperature using the temperature sensor; and   correcting the core body temperature based on the ambient temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein in the correcting the core body temperature,
 the ambient temperature is compared to the core body temperature, and then   when the ambient temperature satisfies a first temperature condition, the core body temperature is not corrected and is considered to be a core temperature of the subject body, and   when the ambient temperature satisfies a second temperature condition, the core body temperature is corrected to obtain a core temperature of the subject body.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in the first temperature condition, the ambient temperature is in a range between 24° C. and 26° C., and in the second temperature condition, the ambient temperature is less than 24° C. or over 26° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in the correcting the core body temperature, the core body temperature is corrected using Equation (1) below,
     T   C   =T   O   +T   A   ×C   W   Equation(1)
   wherein, T c  is a corrected core body temperature, T o  is a measured core body temperature, T A  is a measured ambient temperature, and C w  is a correcting coefficient.